Anti-shake apparatus with magnetic-field change detector arranged in driving coil

ABSTRACT

An anti-shake apparatus of a photographing apparatus comprises a movable-unit and a fixed-unit. The movable-unit has an imaging device and can be moved in first and second directions. The fixed-unit slidably supports the movable-unit in both the first and second directions. The movable-unit has a hall-element unit, and a first driving coil which is used for moving the movable-unit in the first direction, and a second driving coil which is used for moving the movable-unit in the second direction. The hall-element unit has a horizontal hall-element which is used for detecting a position of the movable-unit in the first direction as a first location, and a vertical hall-element which is used for detecting a position of the movable-unit in the second direction as a second location. The horizontal hall-element is arranged inside the first driving coil. The vertical hall-element is arranged inside the second driving coil.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an anti-shake apparatus for a photographing device (apparatus), and in particular to a position-detecting apparatus for a movable unit that includes the imaging device etc., and that can be moved for correcting the hand-shake effect.

2. Description of the Related Art

An anti-shake apparatus for a photographing apparatus is proposed. The anti-shake apparatus corrects for the hand-shake effect by moving a hand-shake correcting lens or an imaging device on a plane that is perpendicular to the optical axis, corresponding to the amount of hand-shake which occurs during imaging.

Japanese unexamined patent publication (KOKAI) No. 2002-229090 discloses an anti-shake apparatus for a photographing apparatus. The anti-shake apparatus performs a moving operation of a movable unit, which includes a hand-shake correcting lens, by using a permanent magnet and a coil, and a position-detecting operation of the movable unit, by using a hall element and a permanent magnet.

However, the magnet and yoke are enlarged on the plane which is perpendicular to the optical axis, because the parts of the magnet and yoke for detecting the position of the movable unit in the first direction extend to the parts of the magnet and yoke for moving the movable unit in the first direction, and the parts of the magnet and yoke for detecting the position of the movable unit in the second direction extend to the parts of the magnet and yoke for moving the movable unit in the second direction, on the plane which is perpendicular to the optical axis.

The first direction is perpendicular to the optical axis, and the second direction is perpendicular to the optical axis and the first direction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus in which the size of the magnet and yoke for detecting the position of the movable unit and for moving the movable unit, is reduced, in an anti-shake apparatus which uses a magnetic-field change-detecting element.

According to the present invention, an anti-shake apparatus of a photographing apparatus comprises a movable unit and a fixed unit.

The movable unit has an imaging device and can be moved in first and second directions. The first direction is perpendicular to an optical axis of a camera lens of said photographing apparatus. The second direction is perpendicular to the optical axis and the first direction.

The fixed unit slidably supports the movable unit in both the first and second directions.

The movable unit has a magnetic-field change-detecting unit, and a first driving coil which is used for moving the movable unit in the first direction, and a second driving coil which is used for moving the movable unit in the second direction.

The magnetic-field change-detecting unit has a horizontal magnetic-field change-detecting element which is used for detecting a position of the movable unit in the first direction, as a first location, and a vertical magnetic-field change-detecting element which is used for detecting a position of the movable unit in the second direction, as a second location.

The horizontal magnetic-field change-detecting element is arranged inside the first driving coil.

The vertical magnetic-field change-detecting element is arranged inside the second driving coil.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The objects and advantages of the present invention will be better understood from the following description, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a photographing apparatus of the embodiment viewed from the back side of the photographing apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the photographing apparatus;

FIG. 3 is a circuit construction diagram of the photographing apparatus;

FIG. 4 is a figure showing the construction of the anti-shake unit;

FIG. 5 is a view along line A-A of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a construction figure of the first driving coil and horizontal hall element;

FIG. 7 is a circuit construction diagram of the circuit the hall element unit and the hall-element signal-processing unit; and

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of the anti-shake operation, which is performed at every predetermined time interval, as an interruption process.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention is described below with reference to the embodiment shown in the drawings. In this embodiment, the photographing device 1 is a digital camera. The photographing device 1 has an optical axis LX.

In order to explain the direction in this embodiment, a first direction x, a second direction y, and a third direction z are defined (see FIG. 1). The first direction x is a horizontal direction which is perpendicular to the optical axis LX. The second direction y is a vertical direction which is perpendicular to the optical axis LX and the first direction x. The third direction z is a horizontal direction which is parallel to the optical axis LX and perpendicular to both the first direction x and the second direction y.

FIG. 5 shows a construction diagram of the section along line A-A of FIG. 4.

The imaging part of the photographing apparatus 1 comprises a Pon button 11, a Pon switch 11 a, a photometric switch 12 a, a release button 13, a release switch 13 a, an indicating unit 17 such as an LCD monitor etc., a CPU 21, an imaging block 22, an AE (automatic exposure) unit 23, an AF (automatic focusing) unit 24, an imaging unit 39 a in the anti-shake apparatus 30, and a camera lens 67 (see FIGS. 1, 2, and 3).

Whether the Pon switch 11 a is in the on state or the off state, is determined by a state of the Pon button 11, so that the ON/OFF states of the photographing apparatus 1 are changed corresponding to the ON/OFF states of the Pon switch 11 a.

The photographic subject image is taken as an optical image through the camera lens 67 by the imaging block 22, which drives the imaging unit 39 a, so that the image, which is taken, is indicated on the indicating unit 17. The photographic subject image can be optically observed by the optical finder (not depicted).

When the release button 13 is half pushed by the operator, the photometric switch 12 a changes to the on state, so that the photometric operation, the AF sensing operation, and the focusing operation are performed.

When the release button 13 is fully pushed by the operator, the release switch 13 a changes to the on state, so that the imaging operation is performed, and the image, which is taken, is stored.

The CPU 21 is a control apparatus, which controls each part of the photographing apparatus 1 regarding the imaging operation, and controls each part of the photographing apparatus 1 regarding the anti-shake operation. The anti-shake operation controls the movement of the movable unit 30 a and controls detecting the position of the movable unit 30 a.

The imaging block 22 drives the imaging unit 39 a. The AE unit 23 performs the photometric operation for the photographic subject, calculates the photometric values, and calculates the aperture value and the time length of the exposure time, which is needed for imaging, corresponding to the photometric values. The AF unit 24 performs the AF sensing operation, and performs the focusing operation, which is needed for the imaging, corresponding to the result of the AF sensing operation. In the focusing operation, the position of the camera lens 67 is moved in the optical axis LX direction.

The anti-shaking part of the photographing apparatus 1 comprises an anti-shake button 14, an anti-shake switch 14 a, a CPU 21, an angular velocity detecting unit 25, a driver circuit 29, an anti-shake apparatus 30, a hall-element signal-processing unit 45, and the camera lens 67.

When the anti-shake button 14 is fully pushed by the operator, the anti-shake switch 14 a changes to the on state, so that the anti-shake operation is performed where the angular velocity detecting unit 25 and the anti-shake apparatus 30 are driven, at every predetermined time interval, independently of the other operations which include the photometric operation etc. When the anti-shake switch 14 a is in the on state, in other words in the anti-shake mode, the parameter IS is set to 1 (IS=1). When the anti-shake switch 14 a is not in the on state, in other words in the non anti-shake mode, the parameter IS is set to 0 (IS=0). In this embodiment, the predetermined time interval is 1 ms.

The various output commands corresponding to the input signals of these switches are controlled by the CPU 21.

The information regarding whether the photometric switch 12 a is in the on state or in the off state, is input to port P12 of the CPU 21 as a 1-bit digital signal. The information regarding whether the release switch 13 a is in the on state or in the off state, is input to port P13 of the CPU 21 as a 1-bit digital signal. The information regarding whether the anti-shake switch 14 a is in the on state or in the off state, is input to port P14 of the CPU 21 as a 1-bit digital signal.

The imaging block 22 is connected to port P3 of the CPU 21 for inputting and outputting signals. The AE unit 23 is connected to port P4 of the CPU 21 for inputting and outputting signals. The AF unit 24 is connected to port P5 of the CPU 21 for inputting and outputting signals.

Next, the details of the input and output relationship with the CPU 21 for the angular velocity unit 25, the driver circuit 29, the anti-shake apparatus 30, and the hall-element signal-processing unit 45 are explained.

The angular velocity unit 25 has a first angular velocity sensor 26, a second angular velocity sensor 27, and a combined amplifier and high-pass filter circuit 28. The first angular velocity sensor 26 detects the velocity-component in the first direction x of the angular velocity of the photographing apparatus 1, at every predetermined time interval (1 ms). The second angular velocity sensor 27 detects the velocity-component in the second direction y of the angular velocity of the photographing apparatus 1, at every predetermined time interval (1 ms).

The combined amplifier and high-pass filter circuit 28 amplifies the signal regarding the first direction x of the angular velocity (the velocity-component in the first direction x of the angular velocity), reduces a null voltage and a panning of the first angular velocity sensor 26, and outputs the analogue signal to the A/D converter A/D 0 of the CPU 21 as a first angular velocity vx.

The combined amplifier and high-pass filter circuit 28 amplifies the signal regarding the second direction y of the angular velocity (the velocity-component in the second direction y of the angular velocity), reduces a null voltage and a panning of the second angular velocity sensor 27, and outputs the analogue signal to the A/D converter A/D 1 of the CPU 21 as a second angular velocity vy.

The CPU 21 converts the first angular velocity vx which is input to the A/D converter A/D 0 and the second angular velocity vy which is input to the A/D converter A/D 1 to digital signals (A/D converting operation), and calculates the hand-shake quantity, which occurs in the predetermined time (1 ms), on the basis of the converted digital signals and the converting coefficient, where focal distance is considered. Accordingly, the CPU 21 and the angular velocity detecting unit 25 have a function which calculates the hand-shake quantity.

The CPU 21 calculates the position S of the imaging unit 39 a (the movable unit 30 a), which should be moved to, corresponding to the hand-shake quantity which is calculated, for the first direction x and the second direction y.

The location in the first direction x of the position S is defined as sx, and the location in the second direction y of the position S is defined as sy. The movement of the movable unit 30 a, which includes the imaging unit 39 a, is performed by using electro-magnetic force and is described later. The driving force D, which drives the driver circuit 29 in order to move the movable unit 30 a to the position S, has a first PWM duty dx as the driving-force component in the first direction x, and a second PWM duty dy as the driving-force component in the second direction y.

The anti-shake apparatus 30 is an apparatus which corrects the hand-shake effect, by moving the imaging unit 39 a to the position S, by canceling lag of the photographic subject image on the imaging surface of the imaging device 39 a 1, and by stabilizing the photographing subject image that reaches the imaging surface of the imaging device 39 a 1.

The anti-shake apparatus 30 has a movable unit 30 a, which includes the imaging unit 39 a, and a fixed unit 30 b. Or, the anti-shake apparatus 30 is composed of a driving part which moves the movable unit 30 a by electro-magnetic force to the position S, and a position-detecting part which detects the position of the movable unit 30 a (a detected-position P).

The size and the direction of the electro-magnetic force are determined by the size and the direction of the current which flows in the coil, and the size and the direction of the magnetic-field of the magnet.

The driving of the movable unit 30 a of the anti-shake apparatus 30, is performed by the driver circuit 29 which has the first PWM duty dx input from the PWM 0 of the CPU 21 and has the second PWM duty dy input from the PWM 1 of the CPU 21. The detected-position P of the movable unit 30 a, either before moving or after moving, which is moved by driving the driver circuit 29, is detected by the hall element unit 44 a and the hall-element signal-processing unit 45.

Information of a first location in the first direction x for the detected-position P, in other words a first detected-position signal px is input to the A/D converter A/D 2 of the CPU 21. The first detected-position signal px is an analogue signal, and is converted to a digital signal through the A/D converter A/D 2 (A/D converting operation). The first location in the first direction x for the detected-position P, after the A/D converting operation, is defined as pdx, corresponding to the first detected-position signal px.

Information of a second location in the second direction y for the detected-position P, in other words a second detected-position signal py is input to the A/D converter A/D 3 of the CPU 21. The second detected-position signal py is an analogue signal, and is converted to a digital signal through the A/D converter A/D 3 (A/D converting operation). The second location in the second direction y for the detected-position P, after the A/D converting operation, is defined as pdy, corresponding to the second detected-position signal py.

The PID (Proportional Integral Differential) control is performed on the basis of the data for the detected-position P (pdx, pdy) and the data for the position S (sx, sy) which should be moved to.

The movable unit 30 a has a first driving coil 31 a, a second driving coil 32 a, an imaging unit 39 a, a hall element unit 44 a, a movable circuit board 49 a, a shaft for movement 50 a, a first bearing unit for horizontal movement 51 a, a second bearing unit for horizontal movement 52 a, a third bearing unit for horizontal movement 53 a, and a plate 64 a (see FIGS. 4 and 5).

The fixed unit 30 b has a position-detecting magnet unit, a first position-detecting and driving yoke 431 b, a second position-detecting and driving yoke 432 b, a first bearing unit for vertical movement 54 b, a second bearing unit for vertical movement 55 b, a third bearing unit for vertical movement 56 b, a fourth bearing unit for vertical movement 57 b, and a base board 65 b. The position-detecting magnet unit has a first position-detecting and driving magnet 411 b and a second position-detecting and driving magnet 412 b.

The shaft for movement 50 a of the movable unit 30 a has a channel shape when viewed from the third direction z. The first, second, third, and fourth bearing units for vertical movement 54 b, 55 b, 56 b, and 57 b are attached to the base board 65 b of the fixed unit 30 b. The shaft for movement 50 a is slidably supported in the vertical direction (the second direction y), by the first, second, third, and fourth bearing units for vertical movement 54 b, 55 b, 56 b, and 57 b.

The first and second bearing units for vertical movement 54 b and 55 b have slots which extend in the second direction y.

Therefore, the movable unit 30 a can move relative to the fixed unit 30 b, in the vertical direction (the second direction y).

The shaft for movement 50 a is slidably supported in the horizontal direction (the first direction x), by the first, second, and third bearing units for horizontal movement 51 a, 52 a, and 53 a of the movable unit 30 a. Therefore, the movable unit 30 a, except for the shaft for movement 50 a, can move relative to the fixed unit 30 b and the shaft for movement 50 a, in the horizontal direction (the first direction x).

When the center area of the imaging device 39 a 1 is located on the optical axis LX of the camera lens 67, the location relation between the movable unit 30 a and the fixed unit 30 b is set up so that the movable unit 30 a is located at the center of its movement range in both the first direction x and the second direction y, in order to utilize the full size of the imaging range of the imaging device 39 a 1.

A rectangle shape, which forms the imaging surface of the imaging device 39 a 1, has two diagonal lines. In this embodiment, the center of the imaging device 39 a 1 is the crossing point of these two diagonal lines.

The imaging unit 39 a, the plate 64 a, and the movable circuit board 49 a are attached, in this order along the optical axis LX direction, viewed from the side of the camera lens 67. The imaging unit 39 a has an imaging device 39 a 1 (such as a CCD or a COMS etc.), a stage 39 a 2, a holding unit 39 a 3, and an optical low-pass filter 39 a 4. The stage 39 a 2 and the plate 64 a hold and urge the imaging device 39 a 1, the holding unit 39 a 3, and the optical low-pass filter 39 a 4 in the optical axis LX direction.

The first, second, and third bearing units for horizontal movement 51 a, 52 a, and 53 a are attached to the stage 39 a 2. The imaging device 39 a 1 is attached to the plate 64 a, so that positioning of the imaging device 39 a 1 is performed where the imaging device 39 a 1 is perpendicular to the optical axis LX of the camera lens 67. In the case where the plate 64 a is made of a metallic material, the plate 64 a has the effect of radiating heat from the imaging device 39 a 1, by contacting the imaging device 39 a 1.

The first driving coil 31 a, the second driving coil 32 a, and the hall element unit 44 a are attached to the movable circuit board 49 a.

The first driving coil 31 a forms a seat and a spiral shape coil pattern. The coil pattern of the first driving coil 31 a has lines which are parallel to either the first direction x or the second direction y, where the movable unit 30 a which includes the first driving coil 31 a, is moved in the first direction x, by the first electro-magnetic force. The lines which are parallel to the second direction y, are used for moving the movable unit 30 a in the first direction x. The lines which are parallel to the second direction y, have a first effective length L1.

The first electro-magnetic force occurs on the basis of the current direction of the first driving coil 31 a and the magnetic-field direction of the first position-detecting and driving magnet 411 b.

The second driving coil 32 a forms a seat and a spiral shape coil pattern. The coil pattern of the second driving coil 32 a has lines which are parallel to either the first direction x or the second direction y, where the movable unit 30 a which includes the second driving coil 32 a, is moved in the second direction y, by the second electro-magnetic force. The lines which are parallel to the first direction x, are used for moving the movable unit 30 a in the second direction y. The lines which are parallel to the first direction x, have a second effective length L2.

The second electro-magnetic force occurs on the basis of the current direction of the second driving coil 32 a and the magnetic-field direction of the second position-detecting and driving magnet 412 b.

Because the first and second driving coils 31 a and 32 a are seat and spiral shape coil patterns, the thicknesses of the first and second driving coils 31 a and 32 a, in the third direction z, can be thinned down in the third direction z.

Therefore, even if the first driving coil 31 a consists of some seat coils which are layered in the third direction z (in order to raise the magnetic-flux density between the first position-detecting and driving magnet 411 b and the first driving coil 31 a), the thickness of the first driving coil 31 a is not increased in the third direction z.

Similarly, even if the second driving coil 32 a consists of some seat coils which are layered in the third direction z (in order to raise the magnetic-flux density between the second position-detecting and driving magnet 412 b and the second driving coil 32 a), the thickness of the second driving coil 32 a is not increased in the third direction z.

Further, it is possible to reduce the size of the anti-shake apparatus 30, by reducing the distance between the movable unit 30 a and the fixed unit 30 b in the third direction z, in comparison with when the first and second driving coils 31 a and 32 a do not form seat and spiral shape coil patterns.

FIG. 6 shows that the first driving coil 31 a (which has two seat coils layered in the third direction z) and the horizontal hall element hh10, are layered in the third direction z.

Similarly, the second driving coil 32 a (which has two seat coils layered in the third direction z) and the vertical hall element hv10, are layered in the third direction z (not depicted).

However, the number of seat coils of the first and second driving coils 31 a and 32 a, which are layered in the third direction z, does not have to be two, so that the first and second driving coils 31 a and 32 a are multi-layered seat coils.

The first and second driving coils 31 a and 32 a are connected with the driver circuit 29 which drives the first and second driving coils 31 a and 32 a through the flexible circuit board (not depicted). The first PWM duty dx is input to the driver circuit 29 from the PWM 0 of the CPU 21, and the second PWM duty dy is input to the driver circuit 29 from the PWM 1 of the CPU 21. The driver circuit 29 supplies power to the first driving coil 31 a corresponding to the value of the first PWM duty dx, and to the second driving coil 32 a corresponding to the value of the second PWM duty dy, to drive the movable unit 30 a.

The first position-detecting and driving magnet 411 b is attached to the movable unit side of the fixed unit 30 b, where the first position-detecting and driving magnet 411 b faces the first driving coil 31 a and the horizontal hall element hh10 in the third direction z.

The second position-detecting and driving magnet 412 b is attached to the movable unit side of the fixed unit 30 b, where the second position-detecting and driving magnet 412 b faces the second driving coil 32 a and the vertical hall element hv10 in the third direction z.

The first position-detecting and driving magnet 411 b is attached to the first position-detecting and driving yoke 431 b, under the condition where the N pole and S pole are arranged in the first direction x. The first position-detecting and driving yoke 431 b is attached to the base board 65 b of the fixed unit 30 b, on the side of the movable unit 30 a, in the third direction z.

The length of the first position-detecting and driving magnet 411 b in the second direction y, is longer in comparison with the first effective length L1 of the first driving coil 31 a. The magnetic-field which influences the first driving coil 31 a and the horizontal hall element hh10, is not changed during movement of the movable unit 30 a in the second direction y.

The second position-detecting and driving magnet 412 b is attached to the second position-detecting and driving yoke 432 b, under the condition where the N pole and S pole are arranged in the second direction y. The second position-detecting and driving yoke 432 b is attached to the base board 65 b of the fixed unit 30 b, on the side of the movable unit 30 a, in the third direction z.

The length of the second position-detecting and driving magnet 412 b in the first direction x, is longer in comparison with the second effective length L2 of the second driving coil 32 a. The magnetic-field which influences the second driving coil 32 a and the vertical hall element hv10, is not changed during movement of the movable unit 30 a in the first direction x.

The first position-detecting and driving yoke 431 b is made of a soft magnetic material, and forms a square-u-shape channel when viewed from the second direction y. The first position-detecting and driving magnet 411 b, the first driving coil 31 a, and the horizontal hall element hh10 are inside the channel of the first position-detecting and driving yoke 431 b.

The side of the first position-detecting and driving yoke 431 b, which contacts the first position-detecting and driving magnet 411 b, prevents the magnetic-field of the first position-detecting and driving magnet 411 b from leaking to the surroundings.

The other side of the first position-detecting and driving yoke 431 b (which faces the first position-detecting and driving magnet 411 b, the first driving coil 31 a, and the movable circuit board 49 a) raises the magnetic-flux density between the first position-detecting and driving magnet 411 b and the first driving coil 31 a, and between the first position-detecting and driving magnet 411 b and the horizontal hall element hh10.

The second position-detecting and driving yoke 432 b is made of a soft magnetic material, and forms a square-u-shape channel when viewed from the first direction x. The second position-detecting and driving magnet 412 b, the second driving coil 32 a, and the vertical hall element hv10 are inside the channel of the second position-detecting and driving yoke 432 b.

The side of the second position-detecting and driving yoke 432 b, which contacts the second position-detecting and driving magnet 412 b, prevents the magnetic-field of the second position-detecting and driving magnet 412 b from leaking to the surroundings.

The other side of the second position-detecting and driving yoke 432 b (which faces the second position-detecting and driving magnet 412 b, the second driving coil 32 a, and the movable circuit board 49 a) raises the magnetic-flux density between the second position-detecting and driving magnet 412 b and the second driving coil 32 a, and between the second position-detecting and driving magnet 412 b and the vertical hall element hv10.

The hall element unit 44 a is a one-axis hall element which has two hall elements that are magnetoelectric converting elements (magnetic-field change-detecting elements) using the Hall Effect. The hall element unit 44 a detects the first detected-position signal px which is used for specifying the first location in the first direction x for the present position P of the movable unit 30 a, and the second detected-position signal py which is used for specifying the second location in the second direction y for the present position P of the movable unit 30 a.

One of the two hall elements is a horizontal hall element hh10 for detecting the first location in the first direction x of the movable unit 30 a, so that the other is a vertical hall element hv10 for detecting the second location in the second direction y of the movable unit 30 a (see FIG. 4).

The horizontal hall element hh10 is attached to the movable circuit board 49 a of the movable unit 30 a, under the condition where the horizontal hall element hh10 faces the first position-detecting and driving magnet 411 b of the fixed unit 30 b, in the third direction z.

The vertical hall element hv10 is attached to the movable circuit board 49 a of the movable unit 30 a, under the condition where the vertical hall element hv10 faces the second position-detecting and driving magnet 412 b of the fixed unit 30 b, in the third direction z.

The horizontal hall element hh10 is arranged inside the spiral shape of the winding of the first driving coil 31 a. Further, it is desirable that the horizontal hall element hh10 is arranged midway along an outer circumference of the spiral shape of the winding of the first driving coil 31 a in the first direction x.

In this case, the center of the movement range of the movable unit 30 a in the first direction x and the center of the position detecting range of the horizontal hall element hh10 can agree, so that the movement range of the movable unit 30 a in the first direction x and the position detecting range of the horizontal hall element hh10 can be utilized.

The vertical hall element hv10 is arranged inside the spiral shape of the winding of the second driving coil 32 a, further, it is desirable that the vertical hall element hv10 is arranged midway along an outer circumference of the spiral shape of the winding of the second driving coil 32 a in the second direction y.

In this case, the center of the movement range of the movable unit 30 a in the second direction y and the center of the position detecting range of the vertical hall element hv10 can agree, so that the movement range of the movable unit 30 a in the second direction y and the position detecting range of the vertical hall element hv10 can be utilized.

At the part of the movable circuit board 49 a to which the horizontal hall element hh10 is attached, the first driving coil 31 a (where the two seat coils are layered in the third direction z) and the horizontal hall element hh10, are layered in the third direction z (see FIG. 6).

Similarly, at the part of the movable circuit board 49 a to which the vertical hall element hv10 is attached, the second driving coil 32 a (where the two seat coils are layered in the third direction z) and the vertical hall element hv10, are layered in the third direction z.

Therefore, the movable circuit board 49 a is a multi-layered circuit board.

In this embodiment, because the horizontal hall element hh10 is arranged inside the first driving coil 31 a, the lengths of the first position-detecting and driving magnet 411 b and the first position-detecting and driving yoke 431 b in the second direction y, are determined by the length of the first driving coil 31 a in the second direction y and the movement range of the first driving coil 31 a in the second direction y, and are not determined by the length of both the first driving coil 31 a and horizontal hall element hh10 in the second direction y, nor the movement range of both the first driving coil 31 a and the horizontal hall element hh10 in the second direction y.

Therefore, the lengths of the first position-detecting and driving magnet 411 b and the first position-detecting and driving yoke 431 b can be shortened in the second direction y, so that the anti-shake apparatus 30 can be downsized, in comparison with when the horizontal hall element hh10 is arranged outside the first driving coil 31 a in the second direction y.

Further, because the first driving coil 31 a and the horizontal hall element hh10 are layered on the movable circuit board 49 a in the third direction z, even if the horizontal hall element hh10 is arranged inside the first driving coil 31 a, the thickness of the part of the movable circuit board 49 a to which the first driving coil 31 a and the horizontal hall element hh10 are attached, is not increased in the third direction z.

Similarly, because the vertical hall element hv10 is arranged inside the second driving coil 32 a, the lengths of the second position-detecting and driving magnet 412 b and the second position-detecting and driving yoke 432 b in the first direction x, are determined by the length of the second driving coil 32 a in the first direction x and the movement range of the second driving coil 32 a in the first direction x, and are not determined by the length of both the second driving coil 32 a and vertical hall element hv10 in the first direction x, nor the movement range of both the second driving coil 32 a and the vertical hall element hv10 in the first direction x.

Therefore, the lengths of the second position-detecting and driving magnet 412 b and the second position-detecting and driving yoke 432 b can be shortened in the first direction x, so that the anti-shake apparatus 30 can be downsized, in comparison with when the vertical hall element hv10 is arranged outside the second driving coil 32 a in the first direction x.

Further, because the second driving coil 32 a and the vertical hall element hv10 are layered on the movable circuit board 49 a in the third direction z, even if the vertical hall element hv10 is arranged inside the second driving coil 32 a, the thickness of the part of the movable circuit board 49 a to which the second driving coil 32 a and the vertical hall element hv10 are attached, is not increased in the third direction z.

When the center of the imaging device 39 a 1, passes through the optical axis LX, it is desirable that the horizontal hall element hh10 is located at a place on the hall element unit 44 a which faces an intermediate area between the N pole and S pole of the first position-detecting and driving magnet 411 b in the first direction x, viewed from the third direction z, to perform the position-detecting operation utilizing the full size of the range where an accurate position-detecting operation can be performed based on the linear output-change (linearity) of the one-axis hall element.

Similarly, when the center of the imaging device 39 a 1, passes through the optical axis LX, it is desirable that the vertical hall element hv10 is located at a place on the hall element unit 44 a which faces an intermediate area between the N pole and S pole of the second position-detecting and driving magnet 412 b in the second direction y, viewed from the third direction z.

The base board 65 b is a plate state member which becomes the base for attaching the first position-detecting and driving yoke 431 b etc., and is arranged being parallel to the imaging surface of the imaging device 39 a 1.

In this embodiment, the base board 65 b is arranged at the side nearer to the camera lens 67 in comparison with the movable circuit board 49 a, in the third direction z. However, the movable circuit board 49 a may be arranged at the side nearer to the camera lens 67 in comparison with the base board 65 b. In this case, the first and second driving coils 31 a and 32 a, and the hall element unit 44 a are arranged on the opposite side of the movable circuit board 49 a to the camera lens 67, so that the first and second position-detecting and driving magnets 411 b and 412 b are arranged on the same side of the base board 65 b as the camera lens 67.

The hall-element signal-processing unit 45 has a first hall-element signal-processing circuit 450 and a second hall-element signal-processing circuit 460.

The first hall-element signal-processing circuit 450 detects a horizontal potential-difference x10 between output terminals of the horizontal hall element hh10, based on an output signal of the horizontal hall element hh10.

The first hall-element signal-processing circuit 450 outputs the first detected-position signal px, which specifies the first location in the first direction x of the movable unit 30 a, to the A/D converter A/D 2 of the CPU 21, on the basis of the horizontal potential-difference x10.

The second hall-element signal-processing circuit 460 detects a vertical potential-difference y10 between output terminals of the vertical hall element hv10, based on an output signal of the vertical hall element hv10.

The second hall-element signal-processing circuit 460 outputs the second detected-position signal py, which specifies the second location in the second direction y of the movable unit 30 a, to the A/D converter A/D 3 of the CPU 21, on the basis of the vertical potential-difference y10.

The circuit construction regarding input/output signals of the horizontal hall element hh10, in the first hall-element signal-processing circuit 450 of the hall-element signal-processing circuit 45, and the circuit construction regarding input/output signals of the vertical hall element hv10, in the second hall-element signal-processing circuit 460 of the hall-element signal-processing circuit 45 are explained using FIG. 7.

The first hall-element signal-processing circuit 450 has a circuit 451 and a circuit 453 for controlling the output of the horizontal hall element hh10, and has a circuit 456 for controlling the input of the horizontal hall element hh10.

The second hall-element signal-processing circuit 460 has a circuit 461 and a circuit 463 for controlling the output of the vertical hall element hv10, and has a circuit 466 for controlling the input of the vertical hall element hv10.

Both output terminals of the horizontal hall element hh10 are connected with the circuit 451, so that the circuit 451 is connected with the circuit 453.

The circuit 451 is a differential amplifier circuit which amplifies the signal difference between the output terminals of the horizontal hall element hh10.

The circuit 453 is a subtracting amplifier circuit which calculates the horizontal potential-difference x10 (the hall output voltage) on the basis of the difference between the amplified signal difference from the circuit 451 and a reference voltage Vref, and which calculates the first detected-position signal px by multiplying a predetermined amplification rate by the horizontal potential-difference x10.

The circuit 451 has a resistor R1, a resistor R2, a resistor R3, an operational amplifier A1, and an operational amplifier A2. The operational amplifier A1 has an inverting input terminal, a non-inverting input terminal, and an output terminal. The operational amplifier A2 has an inverting input terminal, a non-inverting input terminal, and an output terminal.

One of the output terminals of the horizontal hall element hh10 is connected with the non-inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier A1, so that the other terminal of the horizontal hall element hh10 is connected with the non-inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier A2.

The inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier A1 is connected with the resistors R1 and R2, so that the inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier A2 is connected with the resistors R1 and R3.

The output terminal of the operational amplifier A1 is connected with the resistor R2 and the resistor R7 in the circuit 453. The output terminal of the operational amplifier A2 is connected with the resistor R3 and the resistor R9 in the circuit 453.

The circuit 453 has a resistor R7, a resistor R8, a resistor R9, a resistor R10, and an operational amplifier A5. The operational amplifier A5 has an inverting input terminal, a non-inverting input terminal, and an output terminal.

The inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier A5 is connected with the resistors R7 and R8. The non-inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier A5 is connected with the resistors R9 and R10. The output terminal of the operational amplifier A5 is connected with the resistor RB. The first detected-position signal px, which is obtained by multiplying the predetermined amplification rate, by the horizontal potential-difference x10, is output from the output terminal of the operational amplifier A5. One of the terminals of the resistor R10 is connected with the power supply whose voltage is the reference voltage Vref.

The values of the resistors R2 and R3 are the same. The values of the resistors R7 and R9 are the same. The values of the resistors R8 and R10 are the same.

This predetermined amplification rate is based on the values of the resistors R7˜R10 (the ratio of the value of the resistor R7 to the value of the resistor R8).

The operational amplifiers A1 and A2 are the same type of amplifier.

The circuit 456 has a resistor R19 and an operational amplifier A8. The operational amplifier A8 has an inverting input terminal, a non-inverting input terminal, and an output terminal.

The inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier A8 is connected with the resistor R19 and one of the input terminals of the horizontal hall element hh10. The potential of the non-inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier A8 is set at the first voltage XVf corresponding to the value of the current that flows through the input terminals of the horizontal hall element hh10. The output terminal of the operational amplifier A8 is connected with the other input terminal of the horizontal hall element hh10. One of the terminals of the resistor R19 is grounded.

Both output terminals of the vertical hall element hv10 are connected with the circuit 461, so that the circuit 461 is connected with the circuit 463.

The circuit 461 is a differential amplifier circuit which amplifies the signal difference between the output terminals of the vertical hall element hv10.

The circuit 463 is a subtracting amplifier circuit which calculates the vertical potential-difference y10 (the hall output voltage) on the basis of the difference between the amplified signal difference from the circuit 461 and a reference voltage Vref, and which calculates the second detected-position signal py by multiplying a predetermined amplification rate by the vertical potential-difference y10.

The circuit 461 has a resistor R21, a resistor R22, a resistor R23, an operational amplifier A21, and an operational amplifier A22. The operational amplifier A21 has an inverting input terminal, a non-inverting input terminal, and an output terminal. The operational amplifier A22 has an inverting input terminal, a non-inverting input terminal, and an output terminal.

One of the output terminals of the vertical hall element hv10 is connected with the non-inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier A21, so that the other terminal of the vertical hall element hv10 is connected with the non-inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier A22.

The inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier A21 is connected with the resistors R21 and R22, so that the inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier A22 is connected with the resistors R21 and R23.

The output terminal of the operational amplifier A21 is connected with the resistor R22 and the resistor R27 in the circuit 463. The output terminal of the operational amplifier A22 is connected with the resistor R23 and the resistor R29 in the circuit 463.

The circuit 463 has a resistor R27, a resistor R28, a resistor R29, a resistor R30, and an operational amplifier A25. The operational amplifier A25 has an inverting input terminal, a non-inverting input terminal, and an output terminal.

The inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier A25 is connected with the resistors R27 and R28. The non-inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier A25 is connected with the resistors R29 and R30. The output terminal of the operational amplifier A25 is connected with the resistor R28. The second detected-position signal py, which is obtained by multiplying the predetermined amplification rate, by the vertical potential-difference y10, is output from the output terminal of the operational amplifier A25. One of the terminals of the resistor R30 is connected with the power supply whose voltage is the reference voltage Vref.

The values of the resistors R22 and R23 are the same. The values of the resistors R27 and R29 are the same. The values of the resistors R28 and R30 are the same.

This predetermined amplification rate is based on the values of the resistors R27˜R30 (the ratio of the value of the resistor R27 to the value of the resistor R28).

The operational amplifiers A21 and A22 are the same type of amplifier.

The circuit 466 has a resistor R39 and an operational amplifier A28. The operational amplifier A28 has an inverting input terminal, a non-inverting input terminal, and an output terminal.

The inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier A28 is connected with the resistor R39 and one of the input terminals of the vertical hall element hv10. The potential of the non-inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier A28 is set at the second voltage YVf corresponding to the value of the current that flows through the input terminals of the vertical hall element hv10. The output terminal of the operational amplifier A28 is connected with the other input terminal of the vertical hall element hv10. One of the terminals of the resistor R39 is grounded.

Next, the flow of the anti-shake operation, which is performed at every predetermined time interval (1 ms) as an interruption process, independently of the other operations, is explained by using the flowchart in FIG. 8.

In step S11, the interruption process for the anti-shake operation is started. In step S12, the first angular velocity vx, which is output from the angular velocity detecting unit 25, is input to the A/D converter A/D 0 of the CPU 21 and is converted to a digital signal. The second angular velocity vy, which is output from the angular velocity detecting unit 25, is input to the A/D converter A/D 1 of the CPU 21 and is converted to a digital signal.

In step S13, the position of the movable unit 30 a is detected by the hall element unit 44 a, so that the first detected-position signal px, which is calculated by the hall-element signal-processing unit 45, is input to the A/D converter A/D 2 of the CPU 21 and is converted to a digital signal (pdx), and the second detected-position signal py, which is calculated by the hall-element signal-processing unit 45, is input to the A/D converter A/D 3 of the CPU 21 and is converted to a digital signal (pdy). Therefore, the present position of the movable unit 30 a P (pdx, pdy) is determined.

In step S14, it is judged whether the value of the IS is 0. When it is judged that the value of the IS is 0 (IS=0), in other words in the non anti-shake mode, the position S (sx, sy) of the movable unit 30 a (the imaging unit 39 a), which should be moved to, is set to the center of the movement range of the movable unit 30 a, in step S15. When it is judged that the value of the IS is not 0 (IS=1), in other words in the anti-shake mode, the position S (sx, sy) of the movable unit 30 a (the imaging unit 39 a), which should be moved to, is calculated on the basis of the first and second angular velocities vx and vy, in step S16.

In step S17, the driving force D, which drives the driver circuit 29 in order to move the movable unit 30 a to the position S, in other words the first PWM duty dx and the second PWM duty dy, is calculated on the basis of the position S (sx, sy), which is determined in step S15 or step S16, and the present position P (pdx, pdy).

In step S18, the first driving coil unit 31 a is driven by using the first PWM duty dx through the driver circuit 29, and the second driving coil unit 32 a is driven by using the second PWM duty dy through the driver circuit 29, so that the movable unit 30 a is moved.

The process in steps S17 and S18 is an automatic control calculation, which is used with the PID automatic control for performing general (normal) proportional, integral, and differential calculations.

In this embodiment, it is explained that the movable unit 30 a has the imaging device 39 a 1. However, the movable unit 30 a may have a hand-shake correcting lens instead of the imaging device.

Further, it is explained that the hall element is used for position-detecting as the magnetic-field change-detecting element, however, another detecting element may be used for position-detecting. Specifically, the detecting element may be an MI (Magnetic Impedance) sensor, in other words a high-frequency carrier-type magnetic-field sensor, or a magnetic resonance-type magnetic-field detecting element, or an MR (Magneto-Resistance effect) element. When one of the MI sensor, the magnetic resonance-type magnetic-field detecting element, and the MR element is used, the information regarding the position of the movable unit can be obtained by detecting the magnetic-field change, similar to using the hall element.

Further, in the first, second, and third embodiments, the movable unit 30 a is movable in the first direction x and the second direction y, relative to the fixed unit 30 b, so that the position-detecting operation is performed by detecting the position of the movable unit in the first direction x (the first location), and in the second direction y (the second location). However, any other methods (or means) for moving the movable unit 30 a on a plane which is perpendicular to the third direction z (the optical axis LX), and for detecting the movable unit 30 a on the plane, are acceptable.

For example, the movement of the movable unit may only be in one dimension, so that the movable unit can be moved only in the first direction x (not the second direction y). In this case, the parts regarding the movement of the movable unit in the second direction y and regarding the position-detecting operation of the movable unit in the second direction y, such as the vertical hall element hv10 etc., may be omitted (see FIG. 3 etc.).

Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, obviously many modifications and changes may be made by those skilled in this art without departing from the scope of the invention.

The present disclosure relates to subject matter contained in Japanese Patent Application No. 2004-065214 (filed on Mar. 9, 2004), which is expressly incorporated herein by reference, in its entirety. 

1. An anti-shake apparatus of a photographing apparatus, comprising: a movable unit that has an imaging device mounted upon a circuit board of the movable unit, and that can be moved in first and second directions, said first direction being perpendicular to an optical axis of a camera lens of said photographing apparatus, and said second direction being perpendicular to said optical axis and said first direction; and a fixed unit that slidably supports said movable unit in both said first and second directions; said movable unit having a magnetic-field change-detecting unit, and a first driving coil which is mounted upon the circuit board of the movable unit and which is used for moving said movable unit in said first direction, and a second driving coil which is mounted upon the circuit board of the movable unit and which is used for moving said movable unit in said second direction; said magnetic-field change-detecting unit having at least one horizontal magnetic-field change-detecting element which is mounted upon the circuit board of the movable unit and which is used for detecting a position of said movable unit in said first direction as a first location, and at least one vertical magnetic-field change-detecting element which is mounted upon the circuit board of the movable unit and which is used for detecting a position of said movable unit in said second direction as a second location; said horizontal magnetic-field change-detecting element being arranged inside said first driving coil; and said vertical magnetic-field change-detecting element being arranged inside said second driving coil.
 2. The anti-shake apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said horizontal magnetic-field change-detecting element is arranged midway along an outer circumference of said first driving coil in said first direction; and said vertical magnetic-field change-detecting element is arranged midway along an outer circumference of said second driving coil in said second direction.
 3. The anti-shake apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first and second driving coils form seat and spiral shape coil patterns.
 4. The anti-shake apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said first driving coil is a multi-layered seat coil where some of the coils which form said seat and spiral shape coil patterns, are layered in a third direction being parallel to said optical axis; and said second driving coil is a multi-layered seat coil where some of the coils which form said seat and spiral shape coils patterns, are layered in said third direction.
 5. The anti-shake apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said movable unit has a multi-layered circuit board; said first driving coil and said horizontal magnetic-field change-detecting element are layered in said third direction and are attached to said multi-layered circuit board; and said second driving coil and said vertical magnetic-field change-detecting element are layered in said third direction and are attached to said multi-layered circuit board.
 6. The anti-shake apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said fixed unit has a first position-detecting and driving magnet which is used for detecting said first location and for moving said movable unit in said first direction, and which faces said horizontal magnetic-field change-detecting element, and has a second position-detecting and driving magnet which is used for detecting said second location and for moving said movable unit in said second direction, and which faces said vertical magnetic-field change-detecting element.
 7. The anti-shake apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said magnetic-field change-detecting unit has exactly one said horizontal magnetic-field change-detecting element and one said vertical magnetic-field change-detecting element.
 8. The anti-shake apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said magnetic-field change-detecting unit is a one-axis hall element; and said horizontal magnetic-field change-detecting element and said vertical magnetic-field change-detecting element are hall elements. 